Want healthy feet? Say goodbye to those flip flops

Cases of heel pain surge in summer, when people wear flimsy shoes like flip flops and run more than usual on hard surfaces, leading to plantar fasciitis.

Preventionbull;Avoid very high heels and shoes with no support.bull;Maintain a healthy weight.bull;Don't go barefoot on hard surfaces.bull;Warm up before activity.bull;Change your running shoes after about 500 miles. Worn-out shoes lack support.Treatmentbull;Rest. Stay off your feet or switch to low- or no-impact workouts like biking or swimming.bull;Put your feet up and ice the soles several times a day. Try using water frozen in a paper cup.bull;Add sole supports to your shoes or get doctor-prescribed orthotics. bull;Stretch. With your hands against a wall and both feet on the floor, extend one leg behind you to stretch your calf, Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. Repeat with the other leg.bull;Use splints to keep your feet in a neutral position during sleep.bull;Physical therapy.bull;Massage.bull;Nonsteroidal medications like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve).bull;Corticosteroids, applied as a solution on the skin with an electric current or as an injection.If these treatments don't work, doctors may try shock wave therapy or, in the most severe cases, surgery to detach the plantar fascia.bull; Sources: Mayo Clinic, Institute for Sports Medicine at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, National Institutes for Health, American Academy of Family Physicians, interviews.